Multiple valve spring depressor



June 6, 1950 A. J. DELEHANTY 2,510,334

MULTIPLE VALVE SPRING DEPRESSOR Filed March 19, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l Zmnentor A LLE N J. DE LEHAN TY Patented June 6, 1950 MULTIPLE VALVE SPRING DEPRESSOR Allen J. Delehanty, Kalamazoo, Mich, assignor to Borroughs Tool and Equipment Company, Kalamazoo, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application March 19, 1949, Serial No. 82,346

2 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a valve spring depressor and more particularly to a type thereof for simultaneously depressing a plurality of valve springs against the head of an internal combustion engine having overhead valves.

Automobile mechanics familiar with engines having overhead valves are acquainted with the troublesome and time consuming aspects of compressing the valve springs against the engine head in order to position valve keepers around the end of the valve stem, for holding said valve springs under compression. According to presently known means and methods, each valve spring must be individually. and independently depressed t by creating a slow and tedious job, especially on engines having eight or more cylinders and, consequently, sixteen or more valves.

There has been a. long felt need for a device whereby all the valve springs in a single bank, such as along one head of a V-type, valve-in-head engine, may be depressed by a single operation. To my knowledge, no such device has been created prior hereto.

Therefore, a primary obi ect of this invention is the provision of a device for depressing a plurality of aligned valve springs against an engine head, each spring encircling a valve stem mounted in said engine head.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a multiple valve depressing device, as aforesaid, having means for holding said engine head in a predetermined position with respect thereto, and having additional means for holding said valve in the closed position while said valve spring is being depressed.

A further object of this invention is. the provision of a multiple valve depressing device, as aforesaid, in which that portion of said depressing device engaging the valve spring during the depressing operation moves along a line substantially parallel to the axis of the valve stem during the spring depressing operation.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will become apparent to persons familiar with this type of equipment upon referring to the accompanying drawings and upon reading the following specification.

In meeting those objects and purposes heretofore mentioned as well as others incidental there to and associated therewith, I have provided a multiple valve spring depressing device having a substantially rectangular base, a pair of spaced, preferably parallel, upwardly extending arms secured at their lower ends to said base, and a substantially rectangular rocker platform pivot- V ally supported upon and between the upper ends of the said support arms. A substantially vertical adjustment screw ispivotally and rotatably secured at its lower end upon the said base and is threadedly engaged intermediate its extremities by a corresponding end of the rocker platform, whereby rotation of said screw will affect. a tilting of the platform with respect to the base. That end of the rocker platform remote. from the end engaged by said screw is provided with a channel shaped spring depressing bar having a plurality of aligned openings therethrough. The channelshaped bar is positioned so that it opens downwardly. The openings through the channel bar are so disposed therealong that the ends of the valve stems whose springs are being depressed may extend upwardly through said openings as the said bar is lowered. Means is provided on said base and said upwardly extending arms for positioning an, engine head upon said base.

For illustrations of a preferred embodiment of my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an oblique view of the multiple valve spring depressor to which this invention, relates.

Figure 2 is a front elevation view of said device with a valve positioning plate supported upon the base thereof.

Figure. 3 is a broken, sectional view taken alcng the line III-III of Figure 2, including a broken line view of an automobile engine head positioned on the base thereof.

Figure 4 is a broken, sectional view taken along the line I V-IV of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the multiple valve l spring depressor.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along, the line, VI-VI of Figure 5, and includes a cross-sectional view of an, automobile engine head positioned upon the base of said valve spring depressor.

Figure 7 is a broken, sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 5, but showing the rocker platform in a different position than that shown in Figure 6 and including only a broken portion of the said engine head.

Construction For the purpose of convenience in description, the terms front or forwardly and rear or rearwardly, as used in the-following specification, will be understood to refer to the rightwardly nd leftwardly ends of the device, or parts thereof, when positioned as appearing in Figure 3. The terms upper or upwardly and lower or downwardly shall be understood to refer to the device when positioned and/or operating in its normal manner of use.

The base Il may be made in any appropriate fashion and from any suitable material. However, in this embodiment of the invention said base is fabricated in a rectangular shape from steel bar stock thereby providing the front end bar l5, the rear end bar 16 and the side bars I! and I8. These said bars may be secured to each other by any suitable means, such as welding, and are preferably positioned on edge. A cross bar 2|, which extends between and is secured to the side bars H and I8, is parallel with and preferaoly spaced about 2 inches from the rear end bar i6 in this embodiment of the invention. A pair of parallel bearing plates 22 and 23, which are secured as by welding between the rear end bar i6 and the cross bar 2| are about 2 inches apart and preferably centrally disposed between the side bars [1 and It. The .purpose of the bearing plates 22 and 23 will be described in detail hereinafter. A center bar 24, which extends between and is secured to the cross bar 2! and the front end bar l5, as by welding, is disposed approximately midway between the side bars l1 and i8 and substantially parallel therewith.

It will be clearly understood that the specific dimensions hereinabove or hereinafter disclosed are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

The support arms l2 and I3, which are preferably, but not necessarily, substantially identical, are each comprised of a pair of inner and outer support bars 25 and 26, and 25a and 26a, respectively (Figures 2, 4 and Since, in this embodiment of the invention, said support arms are identical, a detail description will be given herein of the support arm l2, which description is intended to apply substantially to the support arm 13.

The inner and outer support bars 25 and 26 of the support arm l2 are secured at their lower ends, as by welding, to opposite sides of the side bar I! approximately one inch from the cross bar 2!. Said support bars 25 and 26 are preferably inclined toward the forward end of the base II at such an angle that they are approximately parallel with the axes of the valve stems when the engine head is supported on the base ll. Thus, in the embodiment here illustrated, the said support bars are disposed at an angle of 15 degrees to the vertical. A spacer 29 is provided between the support bars 25 and 26 near the upper. ends thereof for purposes of strength. The upper ends of the support bars 25, 26, 25a, and 26a are provided with appropriate coaxial openings through which the pivot pins 3| and 32 (Figures 1 and 5) may extend. Appropriate spring clips 33 are provided to hold the pivot pins 3| and 32 in proper position.

As hereinabove stated the support arm I 3 is parallel with the support arm l2 and also spaced approximately on inch from the cross bar 2|.

'Ilhe rocker platform I4 (Figures 1 and 5) has a rear end bar 34 and a pair of side bars 35 and 36 secured to said end bar 34, as by welding. The sid bars 35 and 36 are pivotally supported, re-

spectively, at points equidistant from the rear end bar 34 upon the support arms l2 and 53 so that when said side bars 35 and 36 are substantially parallel with the side bars I! and I3 of the base H, the rear end bar 34 of the platform is approximately directly above the rear end bar l6 of the base II. The side bars I! and [8 of the base H preferably extend forwardly of the support arms l2 and l 3 farther than the side bars 35 and 36 of the platform l4.

A cross bar 31, which extends between and is secured to the side bars 35 and 33, as by welding, is parallel with and spaced approximately two inches from the rear end bar 34. A pair of parallel bearing plates 33 and 39 (Figure 5) which are secured, as by welding, between the rear end bar 34 and cross bar 31, are approximately 2 inches apart and preferably centrally disposed between the side bars 35 and 36. The purpose of the bearing plates 38 and 39 will b disclosed in detail hereinafter.

A downwardly facing, valve spring engaging channel member 41 (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5) having a web 42 is secured to the platform side bars 35 and 36 at the ends thereof remote from the rear end bar 34 so that the web 42 is in a plane substantially parallel with that of the side bars 35 and 36. The side bars 35 and. 36 may be notched, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, so that the web 42 is positioned approximately midway between the upper and lower edges of said side bars. A center bar 43 which is also provided with a notch for engaging the channel member 4] near one end thereof is secured at its other end to th cross bar 31, as by welding, and is preferably parallel with and substantially equidistant from the side bars 35 and 36.

A pair of brace bars 44 and 45 (Figure 5) are secured to the side bars 35 and 36, as by welding, and extend outwardly and then forwardly therefrom, where they are secured to the opposite outer ends of th channel member 4! for the purpose of imparting better rigidity thereto. The brace bars 44 and 45 are preferably notched, like the side bars 35 and 36, for engaging the channel member 4|. The web 42 is provided with a plurality of spaced, aligned, valve stem openings 46 which are preferably elongated along the axis of the web.

A horizontal, cylindrical pivot post 41 (Figures 3 and 4) is rotatably supported within appropriate openings in the bearing plates 22 and 23 and is held in position with respect thereto by means of the spring clips 48. The pivot post 41 (Figure 3) is preferably flattened on two diametrically opposed sides approximately midway between its axial extremities, and a cylindrical opening 49 i provided through said pivot post about midway between the ends thereof and perpendicular to said opposed flat surfaces. A pair of washers 5| and 5la are provided adjacent to said fiat surfaces surrounding th opposite ends of the cylindrical opening '49. The lower end of an adjustment screw '52 extends through the washers 5| and 5 la, and the cylindrical opening 49. A spring clip 53 is secured to the lower end of the adjustment screw 52 adjacent to the washer 5m and thereb prevents the disengagement of the adjustment screw 52 from the pivot post 41. Thus, the lower end of the adjustment screw 52 is rotatably supported within the cylindrical opening in the pivot post 41, which post in turn is pivot-. ally supported upon the bearing plates 22 and 23.

A horizontal adjustment post 54 (Figures 3 and 5) is rotatably supported within appropriate,

aligned coaxial openings in the bearing plates 38 and 39. A pair of spring clips 55 secured upon the adjustment post -54, adjacent to the opposite axial ends thereof, prevent the accidental removal of the adjustment post '54 from said bearing plates 88 and 39. A diametrically disposed, threaded opening -.ili is provided through th ad justment post 54 approximately midway between the axial extremities thereof. The adjustment screw 52 is threadedly engaged by and extends through said threaded opening 56 in th adjustment post 54.

Accordingly, rotation of the adjustment screw 52 in one direction effects an upward movement of the adjustment post 54 with respect to the pivot post 41 and a rotation of the adjustment screw in the opposite direction effects a downward movement of the said adjustment post, thereby controlling the tilting of the platform I4 with respect to the base i I around the pivot pins 3| and 32. A screw actuating rod 5'! is slidably received through an appropriate opening 58 through the upper end of the adjustment screw 52.

A rectangular, valve positioning plate 6i (Figures 2, 3, 4 and 6), having an integral, perpendicularly disposed, plate positioning flange 62 along one lengthwise edge thereof, is removably supportable upon the front end of the base ii adjacent to the support arms I2 and i3. A plurality of spaced, valve positioning angles 53 are disposed along a straight line on the positionin plate BI and secured thereto, as by welding, on the side thereof from which the flange 52 extends. The angles 63 are preferably spaced from the flange 62 so that said angles engage the valve heads 64 and hold them firmly closed when the flange 62 bears against the rearward side 58 of the head 28.

A head positioning bar 55 extends between and is secured to the inner support bars 25 and 25a of the support arms I2 and I3, as by welding, so that said bar 65 is substantiallyparallel with the cross bar 2| and approximately one inch above the base II. A plurality, here two, of head positioning bolts 66 are threadedly supported in appropriate threaded openings through the positioning bar 65, the leading ends 67 of said bolts 66 extending toward the front end of the base II. Look nuts 68 are provided on the bolts 55 for securing them in predeterininable position with respect to the bar 65. If the head positioning bolts 66 are in their proper positions and the side 66 of the engine head 28 is placed firmly against the bolt leading ends 61, the upper ends of the valve stems 21 will extend through the valve stem openings 46 in the channel member 4| when the channel member 4| is urged downwardly to compress the valve springs 69 against the upper surface II of the engine head 28. When the valve springs 69 are thus depressed, the upper ends of the valve stems 2'1, including the valve keepers 12, are completely exposed above the web 42 and said keepers can be positioned around or removed from engagement with each valve stem and the retainer ring I3 encircling the upper end of said valve stem 21.

It will be recognized that the present invention may be adapted for use with many types of engine constructions and the particular one herein shown is selected for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

As shown in Figure 5, parts trays 14, such as for holding valve keepers, valve springs and other similar parts, may :be supported upon the rocker platform in the spaces provided between the platform side bars 35 and 36 and the platform center bar 43.

Operation In order to operate the multiple valve spring depressor I0, to which this invention relates, the adjustment screw 52 is rotated in such a direction that the front end of the rocker platform I4, including the channel member M, is raised high enough to permit placement of the engine head 28 between the channel member 4| and the forward end of the base H. The valve positioning plate BI is placed upon the forward end of the base I I so that the plate positioning flange 62, thereof, is near the lower ends of the support arms I2 and I3 and so that the lengthwise ends of the said positioning plate 6| extend outwardly about equidistantly from the base side bars I! and I8. The engine head 28 is then placed upon the valve positioning plate BI and urged rearwardly until the rearward side 59 thereof bears against the leading ends 67 of the head positioning bolts 66 with the valve stems 21 inclined forwardly. The positioning bolts 66 may be adjusted so that the axes of the valve stems 21 are tangent to the are A (Figure 6) through which the centerline of the valve stem openings 46 swings as the rocker platform i4 is tilted upwardly and downwardly. After the positioning bolts are properly set, as aforesaid, for a particular head, such as the head 28, further adjustment of said bolts is normally not required as long as the depressor I0 is used for depressing valve springs on similar heads. When said valve stem openings 46 are thus properly aligned with the upper ends of the valve stems 21 in said engine head 28, the plate positioning flange 62 is urged tightly against the rearward side 68 of the head 28, thus causing the valve angles 63 to press the valve heads 64 snugly against their seats in the engine head 28 and thereby preventing any material movement of the valve stems 21 while the valve springs 69 are being depressed.

When the engine head 28 is properly positioned upon the base II as above described, the adjustment screw 52 is then rotated by means of the actuating rod 57 until the channel member 4! engages the upper end of the valve spring 69, as shown in Figure '7, and then depresses said valve spring to a position about as shown in Figure 6. The valve keepers I2 are placed in position around the upper end of each valve stem 21, as shown in Figure 6, and the adjustment screw 52 is counter rotated, thereby releasing the compression of the spring 69 until the keepers I2 rest snugly within the upper valve spring thimble Ill. Thus the valve spring 65! is held under compression between the valve keepers I2 and the engine head upper surface H, in a conventional manner. A continued counterrotation of the adjustment screw 52 will raise the channel member 4| to the position necessary for removing the engine head 28 from upon the base II.

It will be recognized that the above described procedure for positioning valve keepers may be employed in reverse in removing valve keepers from the valve stem.

It has been found advantageous to provide support arms I2 and I3 extending sufficiently above the base I I that the axis of the stem 21 (Figure 6) when the engine head 28 is properly positioned upon the base II, is tangent to the are A at a point thereon midway between the upper and lower extremities of the spring depressing stroke, or approximately midway between the positions of the channel member as shown in Figures 6 and 7, respectively. Thus, the travel of the channel member 4| during the depression of the valve spring 69, and the force resulting therefrom, are substantially parallel with the axes of the valve stems 21.

It will also be noted that the adjustment screw 52 must be of sufiicient length to permit a lowering of the forward end of the rocker platform M so that complete and adequate depression of the valve springs 69 may be effected. Accordingly, it will be seen that the length of the support arms I2 and I3, the distance between the pivot pins BI and 32 and the said centerline of the valve stem openings 46 in the web 62, and the length of the adjustment screw 52 are interdependent and critical to the proper and satisfactory operation of the multiple valve spring de pressor I0.

Although the above mentioned drawings and description apply to one particular, preferred embodiment of the invention, it is not my intention, implied or otherwise, to eliminate other variations or modifications which do not depart from the scope of the invention unless specifically stated to the contrary in the hereinafter appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for depressing a plurality of valve springs, each encircling a valve stem mounted in an engine head, while holding said valve stem in a fixed position, the combination comprising: a base having opposite ends; a pair of parallel, spaced support arms secured to and extending upwardly from said base intermediate the ends thereof; a, rocker platform having opposite ends, said platform being pivotally supported at points intermediate said platform ends upon the upper ends of said support arms; an adjustment screw pivotally and rotatably supported at one end upon said base near one end thereof, and threadedly and pivotally engaged intermediate its ends by the corresponding end of said platform, whereby rotation of said screw effects a tilting of said platform; an elongated plate secured to that end of said platform remote from said screw, said plate being positioned over the corresponding end of said base and having a, plurality of openings therethrough and arranged along a line thereon; and means positioning said head on said base in a, predetermined relation therewith; said platform pivot points being so spaced from said base and said screw being of such length that actuation of said screw will cause said line on said plate to pass through an arc, the midpoint of which is tangent to the axes of said valve stems and the ends of which constitute, respectively,

the beginning and end of a spring depressing operation of said device.

2. In a device for depressing a plurality of valve springs, each encircling a valve stem mounted in an engine head, the combination comprising: a rectangular base having a horizontal pivot post rotatably supported thereon parallel with and adjacent to one end thereof; a pair of parallel, spaced support arms secured to and extending upwardly from said base at points spaced inwardly and equidistantly from the axis of said pivot post; a rectangular rocker platform pivotally supported at points spaced equidistantly from one end thereof upon the upper ends of said arms; a horizontal adjustment post pivotally supported upon said platform intermediate said one end thereof and a line between said points thereon, said adjustment post being substantially directly above said pivot post when said base and said platform are parallel; an adjustment screw having one end rotatably secured to said pivot post, and being threadedly engaged by said adjustment post intermediate its ends whereby rotation of said screw effects a tilting of said platform; a channel shaped member having a web secured to that end of said platform remote from said adjustment post, said channel member opening downwardly toward the corresponding end of said base, and said web being substantially parallel with said platform and having a plurality of openings therethrough and arranged along the longitudinal centerline thereof; means removably supportable upon said base holding said valve stems in a fixed position with respect to said head and means positioning said head on said base in a predeterminable relation therewith; said platform pivot points being so spaced from said base and said screw being of such length that actuation of said screw will cause said web centerline to pass through an arc, the mid-point of which is tangent to the axes of said valve stems and the ends of which constitute, respectively, the beginning and end of a spring depressing stroke of said web.

ALLEN J. DELEHANTY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 852,145 Stevens Apr. 30, 1907 1,586,410 Cook May 25, 1926 2,144,140 Batcheller Jan. 17, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 582,077 Great Britain Nov. 4, 1946 

